A PHYSIOTHERAPIST from Dursley is heading for London this week to help keep the world’s top athletes nimble.

Elaine Kirton, 40, from the Courtyard Clinic, will be joining 70,000 volunteers from across the country who are giving up their time to enjoy an experience of a lifetime by helping out at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

For the next three weeks Elaine will be venue physiotherapist for the beach volleyball and the indoor volleyball, covering training and matches at both Horse Guards Parade and Earls Court in the capital.

She is no stranger to the Olympics as in 2004 she volunteered at the Athens Games and was also at the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games.

Elaine, who also works for the British Army as a physiotherapist at Hullavington and South Cerney, told the Gazette that getting to the London Olympics was a privilege.

She said: "I’m from London originally and I’m very patriotic. I just think it’s a privilege to be working at the Olympics in London.

"Because of my work with the Army I really wanted to be at Horse Guards Parade, and I am so that will have extra meaning for me."

Getting to the Olympics has been a long wait for Elaine, who first applied in late 2010 and has been through various interviews and had to complete several application forms to be successful.

Elaine, who lives in Tetbury, has her first shift at Horse Guards Parade on Wednesday, July 25, and from Saturday, July 28 will work solidly for three weeks covering the games.

She said: "I’ll be working long shifts and it’s going to be quite busy but I think there’s going to be a real buzz about the place."

Elaine is also a sportswoman herself, having completed the Clipper 09/10 Round the World Yacht Race and raced at the Women’s Henley Regatta.